VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a species-specific disease similar to Feline Leukemia. Like AIDS for humans, FIV lowers the white blood cell count in a cat, which weakens the immune system.

A cat cannot become infected with FIV from casual contact. The disease is usually transferred from an infected cat's saliva during an aggressive fight. Mating is rarely the cause of FIV, but kittens sometimes contract the disease from nursing. 

There are a wide variety of symptoms that vary among cats. The most common symptoms are oral infections, but other infections do occur. Other symptoms include diarrhea, fever, weight loss, or even cancer.

After signs of FIV are recognized, a test to see if there are FIV antibodies in the cat's system is given. There is no treatment for the FIV virus itself. Treatment given is aimed at strengthening the immune system, or at diseases the cat develops due to immune deficiency.

There are five stages to FIV. The first stage occurs a few weeks after infection. The cat may have a lower white blood cell count and/or a fever. During the second stage, which can last years, the cat shows no signs of the disease.  At the third stage, a fever develops along with inflamed lymph nodes. The beginning signs of AIDS-like symptoms show up in the fourth stage, including weight loss and infections. At the fifth stage, the cat's white blood cell count goes down drastically and the immune system of the cat deteriorates further, leading the cat open to acquire many diseases that end up becoming quite severe. 

FIV is most common in male cats who have not been neutered because they are typically more aggressive than other cats. Female cats and neutered male cats are less likely to contract the disease. Also, indoor cats are much less likely to develop FIV than outdoor cats. Before bringing in a stray cat, the cat should be tested for FIV, especially if there are already other cats in the house.

Households that have lost a cat to FIV shouldn't worry about a new kitten contracting the disease. FIV can only live for about three hours maximum outside of the cat's body; however, food dishes and litter boxes should be disinfected.

Cats with FIV should still be considered for adoption into houses that do not already have cats. FIV cats are able to live long, normal lives without showing signs of the disease until they are older.

References
http://jvm2.vm.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp/naika/naikahp/fiv/fiv_e.html
http://maxshouse.com/feline_immunodeficiency_virus.htm
http://www.lbah.com/Feline/fiv.htm
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/FIV.html
http://www.afa.arlington.ma.us/FIV.html
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/fiv/index.shtml